Improving Billinghurst have renewed hope

Premier Division side basement side Hurst have picked up since their maiden win of the season against the Sussex Development XI, but have not had lady luck on their side.

On Saturday, they posted 128-2 at Preston Nomads, but rain put paid to the day.

Opener Barber (45) and Andy Barr (44) had made a good start, before Abi Sakande and Mahesh Rajaratne pushed them past the hundred mark before the weather set in.

Barber said: “It’s typical as one week we are doing ok with the bat, it gets called off. But there were plenty of positives.

“The whole game was set up perfectly especially as we were playing Preston Nomads, who are arguably one of the best bowling sides in the league. So it was frustrating that the rain came along.

“There was a worry as if it then dried up we could have lost all our overs, leaving them 128 to knock off, which isn’t much of an ask with their batting line-up. It was a bit bittersweet in the end, but I will take ten points as it could’ve been worse.

“The past three games since our win, things have been so much better. The attitude has changed and the belief is there. We now have a core group of players and I feel this half of the season we can start again and give it a good go and try to win as many games as we can.”

“I feel a lot more positive now when a couple of weeks ago I was a bit down in the dumps about it.”

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